Food News

On 1 January 2025, the marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables have been adjusted. The relevant industry associations are very concerned about the regulation.

Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2429 sets out new rules for the labelling of fresh fruit and vegetables. According to Art. 7 para. 1 subparagraph 2 of the regulation, the following is regulated with regard to labelling:“Additional terms which suggest better/superior quality may not be included. In particular, the label may not include any descriptor of quality except the information specified in the marking requirement as set out in Annex I.”

The criticism relates to the requirement, which is not specified in more detail, and also to the fact that the regulation removes a differentiation option from the trade that was used to advertise above-average qualities.The reason for the new regulation, however, is a consequence of the unfortunate practice that has existed up to now. In this practice, standard qualities were often misleadingly enhanced by objectively unjustified, i.e. purely verbal, attributions such as ‘premium quality’ or ‘best choice’. The new regulation is intended to prevent this. In itself, this change would be welcome. But is it also practical? After all, what happens if the word ‘premium’ or ‘best choice’ appears in a brand name? Is this permissible because it does not refer to the product itself? What about attributes such as ‘sun-ripened’, ‘hand-picked’, ‘air freight’ and the like? Are they allowed or will they be banned in the future?

The new labelling regulation, which replaces the previous implementing regulation (EU) 2011/543, will continue to be a source of much discussion.

YOUR PLUS: AGROLAB laboratories assess product labelling according to the applicable marketing standards and will closely monitor assessment practice and exchange experiences with other laboratories through our DeLOG* membership.

*_{Deutsche Laborgemeinschaft Obst & Gemüse (German Laboratory Association for Fruit and Vegetables)}

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger, AGROLAB GROUP